Troy Alphin

Troy Alphin is a Research Faculty member with UNCW in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology, working at the Center for Marine Science. He is a benthic ecologist and shellfish biologist, working on issues of vital importance to the restoration and maintenance of critical estuarine habitats such as marsh, oyster reefs, living shorelines, and tidal creek systems. His research has focused on critical estuarine, beach, nearshore and offshore communities. Specific investigations include development and testing of living shorelines, oyster biology, and long-term evaluation benthic community development in estuarine and near-shore habitats. He has published more than 60 peer reviewed scientific articles and presented or coauthored more than 100 presentations at national and international scientific meetings.
Since 2020 he has served as the Scientist in Residence for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) on the campus of UNCW, as well as being a founding member of the Alliance for a Blue Economy
Troy Alphin is the creator of the first GIS based siting tool used in North Carolina, NC Shellfish Aquaculture Siting tool to help new industry participants find potential sites .
More recently he supported participants in Shellfish aquaculture through the creation of Shellfish Mariculture Propel business training to help shellfish growers succeed
“Sustainability is critical to the long-term management of our blue resources”

Education

M.S., Marine Biology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
B.S., Marine Biology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Specialization in Teaching

BIO489-Benthic Ecology
BIO484- Research Methods in Biology

Professional Service

Scientist in Residence, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (2020-Present)
Alliance for a Blue Economy (All Blue)- Promoting sustainable business efforts in the coastal environment ( https://uncw.edu/research/centers/innovation-entrepreneurship/events-programs/programs/all-blue )
NC Shellfish Aquaculture siting tool ( https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/38a10a7fc9074b4fb3dacfdfd16cfebe/ )
Creator of the Shellfish Mariculture Propel business training (https://uncw.edu/research/centers/innovation-entrepreneurship/events-programs/programs/propel )
Research Areas Coordinator- Center for Marine Science- 2000-2022
VP, Board of Directors East Coast Shellfish Research Institute 2009-2012
Lower Cape Fear River Monitoring Program Advisory and Technical Committee (1995-present Program Coordinator 2024- present)- Review and update as needed technical monitoring efforts for a coalition of discharges in the lower Cape Fear River estuary.
Executive Committee Cape Fear River Assemble 2015-2022- Handle governance decisions (in coordination with the executive director) including programmatic objectives and research areas to support.

Community Engagement

Lead for the St. James Living Shoreline program established in 2006
Lead for UNCW/St. James Speaker Series established in 2018
Living Shoreline Student Support Fund Endowment
NC Oyster Steering Committee
St. James Conservancy (BOT)

Honors & Awards

Five Million Dollar Award 2010
Staff Award for Excellence in Community Engagement